Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love the premise and the potential, but the text itself read a little younger than my preference.

Interesting story drawing a lot on fairy tales, as it promised. Filles with little symbolism and references, mystery and lunar cycle. There a few stories in there, the main one and earlier ones, used as tools to help us understand and get the atmosphere to settle in. For people very used to fairy tales and who have a read a lot of modern variation, the book won't be suprising or that new. Nonetheless, it works for what it wants to do, with a nice prose and enough characters and complicated relationships to keep a certain level of interest.

I struggled a bit with connecting to the characters, or caring for the story. Not that it's not interesting or well done, but something in the narration kept me at a distance.

All in all, a good fantastical historical novel, building slowly with a great atmosphere.

The Deer Stalker Stories invites readers into a world where moon phases shape destinies and the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur. Each tale, from The Road Not Taken to The Strange Conversation, echoes with mystery, folklore, and eerie symbolism. What stands out is the careful interweaving of the lunar cycle with pivotal moments in the characters' lives, as if the moon itself is a silent narrator, influencing fate and guiding—or misleading—their choices.

The moon phases—Waning Crescent, First Quarter Moon, Full Moon—are not just time markers; they are characters themselves. They deepen the mood, reflect internal struggles, and act as silent witnesses to the hidden dramas unfolding. The Mysterious Curse – Full Moon stands as a haunting reminder of how time and fate can shift under the full glow of the moon’s power, while The Last Goodbye – Waning Crescent Moon 1636 delivers a poignant finality, capturing the tension of endings.

Stories like The Fated Meeting and The Bloody War – New Moon unfold with an almost ritualistic cadence, as if the characters are being drawn into an inevitable clash with fate. These tales, woven together across the centuries, come alive with vivid imagery and rich historical depth, making every encounter feel weighted with the gravitas of something far greater than mere chance.

The unpredictable blend of history and supernatural suspense captivates in The Unwanted Child – Quarter Moon 1623, while The Grave News – Waxing Gibbous Moon takes readers to the cusp of revelation, where secrets are unearthed with chilling finality. Each story feels like a chapter in an ever-unfolding mystery, drawing on the lore of ancient times while speaking to universal truths of human nature.

The Deer Stalker Stories is a collection of darkly atmospheric tales, where every moon phase casts its shadow on lives teetering between reality and the unknown. It’s a reading experience where mystery and history dance in the pale light of the moon, and the stories linger long after the last page is turned.